THE POLITICAL SITUATION

Otago Witness, Issue 3030, 10 April 1912, Page 52

THE POLITICAL SITUATION

SIR J. G. WARD'S INTENTIONS. "NOT LEAVING NEW ZEALAND." (From Oue Own Correspondent.) WELLINGTON, April 2. Addressing- the officers of the Treasury Department to-day, Sir Joseph Ward told them that they were bound to see him in the future somewhere. "'I am not going out of New Zealand," ho continued. " I want to make that clear, because some people have an idea that I am going to soni-e other part of tho world to make my permanent residence there. I am going to be in the public life of this country. I hope, for many years to come. There may be a few people who would bo perhaps happier if they got rid of me, but this is a free country, and we can do as we like in our respective walks of life so long as we obey the law, and I always do that. I bid you farewell; au revoir, but not good-bye." MR MASSEY INTERVIEWED. AUCKLAND, April 2. Several aspects of the political situation were discussed by Mr Massey in an interview to-day. When the reconstruction of the Governmentwas announced Mr Massey was travelling in Taranaki. and his return to Auckland to-day afforded the first opportunity for a pressman to ascertain his opinions upon the new Ministry. "So far as I am able to judge," said Mr Massey, "the position is thoroughly well understood. The people see a set of men in power who have got there as the result of methods which are not creditable to them, and are certainly not creditable to the country. These men make up a Ministry without any opinions on which its members are agreed, and, so far as it is possible to judge, without a majority behind it; therefore it appears as a Ministry which does not possess the confidence of the country, and which is apparently afraid to face the House until the last possible moment. The new Ministry has advised the Governor to prorogue Parliament until June 27. As that date falls on a Thursday, and as the Government has no authority to spend money after June 30, it will ask for Supply on Friday, June 28, and tho real business of the session will not commence until the following week —the beginning of July. I am confident that such tactics will not commend themselves to the right-thinking people of tho community, and I also express the opinion that no Ministry worthy of the country would adopt them." Discussing the position of the Opposition, Mr Massey said that the Reform party, both outside Parliament and inside, was never more determined and never more enthusiastic than it was to-day. There was a feeling of disappointment at the result of the want of confidence motion during the short session, but that had been succeeded by a determination to have sentenced at the bar of public opinion those who did the wire-pulling, and who brought pressure to bear on inexperienced members, and who were in that and other respects responsible for one of the darkest pages in tho political history of New Zealand. When asked if he could give some indication of the future tactics of the Reform party, Mr Massey said he could hardly answer that question. " All I can say." he added, "is that wo shall do our duty ».o the country to the best of our ability and judgment. When time comes for a majority" to place us on the Treasury benches we shall not shirk our responsibilities, and let me assure you that when we. get there there will be no hiding behind the fence. The present Ministry is now in the humiliating position in which I foresaw it would be landed by the unworthy tactics employed by its party prior to and during last session. It is ' probably just as well that it should remain there for some lithe time to come. What has happened and what is happening suits us exactly." Tho possibility of a dissolution was discussed by Mr Massey. " My own opinion is that there will be no election for some time," he said. "Still, it is well to be ready for a general election, and by the way one of the most encouraging indications is tho fact that in several districts where, on the last occasion, the Reform party had a difficulty in securing candidates, -rood men have already announced themselves to mo as willii.g to como forward at the first opportunity."

MR LAURENSON INTERVIEWED. CHRISTCHURCH, April 3. In an interview with a press representative to-dav, the Hon. G. Laureneon said he had been agreeably surprised with the manifestation of satisfaction which had made itself apparent by the hundreds of messages from all parte of New Zealand which had been received by every member of the new Cabinet expressing good wishes towards the new Administration. Everyone he had come in contact with had been possessed with the one idea—to allow the new Administration to prove itself. If it were unworthy, then let it suffer, but otherwise give it a chance to prove itself. That was the prevailing opinion if one might judge by the expressions of public opinion all over the country. The Cabinet so far, Mr Laurenson said, had only been dealing with departmental matters." Nothing had so far been decided as to their programme, but this would probably bo done immediately after the Easter holidays. Mr Laurenson said lie anticipated that Mr Myers would pay a visit to Canterbury about the end of the month, and hie coming in contact with and consulting local people would have the befit effect on the prcpoßed improvement on the despatch and receipt of goods bet.vcen Christchurch and Lyttelton. PUBLIC; RECEPTION TO MR MVEILS. AUCKLAND, April 3. At a representative non-party meeting to-day it was decided to tender the Hon. A. M. Myers a public reception in recognition of hiri elevation to Cabinet rank. MR ATMORE'S POSITION. NELSON. April 3. Mr 11. Atmore. M.P.. who was interviewed by a Colonist representative regarding his attitude towards the Mackenzie Government, said he believedthe would judge the Cabinet on its policy rather than t n personal grounds. Ii the Cabinet was prepared to tackle the biggest question of' all —the cost of living—there was no reason why it should not last, with perhaps one or two slight alterations. They were practically all new to office, but the Opposition would be in a worse plight if called upon

to form a Ministry, as it could not put in one man who had held office before. The new Prime Minister was not the strongest man, but he was the safest at the present juncture. The fact that he was a freeholder would give the small farmer a certain amount of confidence in his administration. If the Government tackled the question of the cost of living wholeheartedly by giving increased facilities for settlement, there was no reason why the worker and the settler-farmer should not be vastly improved. When the public obtained from the platform full and true accounts of rhe no-confidence debate he was sure a revulsion of feeling must set in throughout the Dominion. He criticised the Opposition for attacking the borrowing policy while it had supported almost every loan. With regard tu the land question, the real question was not Native lands. Nearly £14,000,C00 worth of land was held by Europeans. They would not find that the Oppositionists in their speeches referred to these lands, but almost always to Native lands. On b->ing questioned regarding his own position Mr Atmoiv was non-committal, lie was prepared to support any good measure brought forward irrespective of party considerations. There were sufficient able men in the House to do a lot of useful work if party shackles did not interfere with their usefulness. He considered it a bitter satire on party government if 80 men fresh from an appeal to the countrycould not agree upon an Executive, and, after pushing party wrangles on one side, grapple with the questions awaitih"- settlement. SPEECH BY MR M'CALLUM. ,_ „ _ BLENHEIM. April 3. Mr K. MCallum, member for Wairau, addressed the electors of Picton last night, and was well received, a vote of thanks and confidence being passed in him and the Mackenzie Ministry. The meeting congratulated Mr M'Callum on the victory achieved by him in successfully resisting the petition case. ENTHUSIA STIC~ MINISTRY. AUCKLAND, April 5. In discussing matters relating to the new Cabinet, the Hon. A. M. Myers remarked that every member of it had entered upon ins responsibilities with enthusiasm. "I venture to say," ho added, "that never in the history of New Zealand has there been a more earnest and industrious Ministry. The only desire of the members is that they may be given an opportunity of showing their administrative abilities, and I am confident that the feeling of the country will bo to give them every opportunity of proving their worthiness to carry out their high and responsible duties'' THE RAILWAY POLICY. AUCKLAND, April 5. In the course of a conversation on railway matters tho Hon Mr Myers (Minister of Railways) stated that he would naturally carry out tho same policy in connection with the department as he had while administering tho affairs of the city—a progressive policy consistent with prudent finance. Ho thought that the people of Auckland would agree with him that in tho light of present events such a policy was in the right direction. CHRISTCHURCH, April 5. The Hon. J. Colvin (Minister of Mines) arrived here from Wellington to-day, en route to the West Coast.

When asked for his views on the political situation Mr Colvin remarked that he had little to say. He believed that the Mackenzie Ministry would prove equf.l to the task of retaining office, despite the. anticipations of some that the countrary would be the ease. He thought that the Ministry was one of the best that the Dominion had ever had. and that it was a strong one from a debating as well as from an administrative point of view. Mr Colvin said his own interests were bound up in the mining industry, and he h;td a great deal of sympathy for the industry, which ho considered to be one of the best colonisers in the world. All his life lie had been either engaged in mining "or in business connected with the industry. He recognised that he had a hard uphill climb in following Ins predecessor (Mr it M'lOn/io), out lie intended to exert his utmost endeavours to push ahead the mining industry in all its phases—gold, coal, and oil. He hoped to be able on his present visit to the Coast to visit the State coal mines at Hunanga and Seddonvillo. as well as the different milling centres When asked if there were any recent developments in connection with the Kotuku oilfields, Mr Colvin replied that ho possessed no official information, but he had learned from a gentleman who recently visited the field that the prospects were improving. A LIBERAL RALLY. AUCKLAND, April 5. Ti is proposed to hold a great Libera] and Labour rally in Auckland towards the mu\ of the present month-. Thursday, April 25, has bten chosen for the gathering, at which the Prime Minister and as many members of the new- Cabinet as can come will be present and deliver speeches. THE HON. MR COLVIN. (From Ocr Own Correspondent.) GREYMOUTH, April 7. The Hon. James Colvin arrived here last night from Christctiureh-, and was accorded a very enthusiastic reception from his old W<\-,t Coast friends, who are delighted at his promotion to Ministerial rank. The Minister will be on the Coast for a week. He will be entertained at banquets at Greymouth, Kumara, and Westport, and will visit both the State mines. On Tuesday lie will open the Kumara water raco extension. HON. MR RUSSELL BUSY. CHRISTCHURCH, April 6. On beinc interviewed here Lint night, the lion. G. W. Russell said lie was making a thorough study of the Local Government Bill. He would arrange the conference of the local bodies' delegates to discuss it in iroed time. He had asked the Electoral Department for a brief report on the electoral systems, including proportional representation, with a view to finding a satisfaetoy substitute for the second ballot. He 'had lately inspected the Dominion Museum and the specimens belonging to it, and was amazed at the enormous number of exhibits for which there wa.s no room. Cases of specimens had not seen the daylight since 1565. Steps would have to be

taken immediately to house the collection adequately and safely.

i HON MR HANAN INTERVIEWED. A .Southland Times reporter was granted a brief interview with jxT Ilanan on the express on Thursday evening. Kegarding the * future of the new Cabinet, Mr Hanaa 6aid that there were encouraging signs of its possessing' the confidence of the country, especially in the .North Island. It was unfortunate that | under the conditions now ruling in the selection of a Ministry there were many interests, personal and otherwise, to be considered, and the provincial considerations were the most to be lam en tod. He was of the opinion that a Ministry should be formed of the best men, irrespective of what part of the countiy they came from. Members who were most thoroughly acquainted with the work of the various departments should be chosen in every case as Cabinet Ministers. When asked whether he had in view any changes in the administration of the Justice a-nd Education Departments, Mr Hanan replied that he had certain proposals in view in the way of improvement in several directions, but he could not state at present the details of what he intended to do. He was making arrangements to address the electors in the near future, and ho would (hen tell them in what direction improvements might be made. The Pressman suggested to Mr Hanan that rumours hod been abroad that the Education Department, owing to the unstable political conditions ruling of late, liad been somwhat neglected. " All I can say of that," the Minister replied, "is that there is a great deal of work to be done." Mr Hanan went on to say that at present he was very busy studying the administrative portion of his work, and when he completed that he would devote his attention to the future of the departments under his jurisdiction. It was intended, ho added, that certain members of the newCabinet would take the platform on behalf of the party, and explain to the people the policy of the new Administration. Mr Hanan added that he had been particularly busy in looking up the administrative work in connection with the Police and Prisons Departments. He had some ideas of improvement of the local rcforma- , tory prison, and he wished that some of the members of Parliament would come to I Invercargill and see the good work that was being done there by Mr Hawkins. In the course of a further interview the Hon. Mr Hanan, referring to the new i Government, which he termed the | " People's Government," said there was | absolutely not the slightest foundation for the catch cry that had been raised whereby the Ministry was designated a "stop-gap" one. The cry had emanated from the quarters of the political opposition. Wild statements had been made and circulated broadcast that the Progressive Liberal party was one divided against itself, and tliat the position of Ministers was an untenable one. Nothing that he knew of had transpired which I could lend colour to the predictions that I the party would not remain solidly united | when the House met. He was sure that | such statements would be proved absolutely false and without the slighftst foundation. j They had been manufactured and circulated | for the purpose of belittling and under-rating ! the Ministry. It would be found that all 1 personal motives and petty grievances would be subordinated to professed political ■ principles and progressive intent when next the division hell sounded. The party was united in loyalty, and the Ministry had the confidence of the people. Mr Hanan condemned the vain endeavours of the Opposition press and Opposition supporters to depreciate the capabilities of his colleagues. All had proved their capacity, their ability, and their clearness of intellect. None perhaps was brilliant, nevertheless they were possessed of that judgment and shrewdness which so often override brilliancy. The various departments would be administered in a manner that would be at least conscientious and thorough. He had no hesitation in saying that the future would prove that his fellow Ministers would emerge triumphant when their term of office should terminate, and that they would he regarded as comparing favourably with any i previous Ministry that the country had ; known. There need be no apprehension that the Government contemplated revoluj tionary legislation of such a nature as to rouse any violent agitation of the Dominion's peace of mind. One step must be taken at a time. Progress, would proI ceed gradually and parallel to public opinion. Revolutionary tactics would not be adopted. He had no desire to blow the trumpet of blatant praise, but. 'he was assured that the legislation contemplated i would be solid and practical. Upon their work the members of the. new Cabinet must depend for public approbation. The now Cabinet, he considered, was unassailable. Behind it was the small farmer and the wage-earner, who recognised the absurdity of making the Opposition custodians of tr.eir interests. The Hon. T. Mackenzie ascended to the Prime Ministership amidst the jubilations of the small farmers in the country. That the Opposition had gone back was evident from the attempts made by the Opposition papers to undermine and discount the members of the Ministry. From their reception throughout the country the Ministers had taken heart. Each h?td been deluged with congratulations—all voluntary —from every grade of society, trade, and profession throughout the Dominion. Many of these congratulatory messages, too. came from men who did not make a practice of expressing their political opinions. He felt that the Government had the confidence of the people, and that it would be given a fair and impartial trial, lie felt also that the new Ministry would be a power for good in the country. In conclusion, Mr Hanan said he realised that some difficulties beset the path of the Government, but these would be overcome by judgment, ta-ct, and honesty of purpose. MR ROBERTSON AND HIS CONSTITUENTS. LEVIN, April 6. Mr Robertson, M.P., addressed a crowded meeting on Thursday night. A motion was carried, amidst much applause, according a vote of thanks, and eosidering that Mr Robertson acted in the best interests of the Dominion in voting against Mr Massey's no-confidence motion.